Method and apparatus for compacting cotton within basket

Abstract

A cotton compacting structure arranged in combination with a cotton receiving basket on a cotton harvester for compacting the relatively light and fluffy cotton materials directed and blown into the basket to increase the maximum capacity of the basket without increasing basket size. The compacting structure of the present invention includes a rigid frame assembly mounted for movement within the basket. One or more rotatable members are mounted on and for movement with the frame assembly for forcibly imparting direction to the cotton received in the basket. A method of filling a cotton basket assembly is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile cotton harvester having a cotton basket, cotton conveying duct structure including an outlet for blowing cotton in a preselected direction into said basket and a cotton compacting assembly comprising: a rigid cotton compacting frame mounted for movement in said basket; and   at least one rotatable member mounted on and movable with said frame, said member being configured to impart movement to the cotton received in said basket away from said outlet upon rotation of said member.   
     
     
       2. The cotton harvester according to claim 1 further including structure for mounting the frame for pivotal movement about a fixed generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
       3. The cotton harvester according to claim 1 wherein said cotton compacting assembly further includes a driver for vertically reciprocating the frame on-the-go to push the cotton materials toward a floor of the basket. 
     
     
       4. The cotton harvester according to claim 1 wherein a driver is provided to rotate each rotatable member independent of the movements of the frame. 
     
     
       5. The cotton harvester according to claim 4 wherein the axis rotation of said member is generally parallel to the direction of the blown harvested cotton. 
     
     
       6. The cotton harvester according to claim 1 wherein said frame includes a plurality of rigidly interconnected frame member. 
     
     
       7. A cotton harvester having a cotton basket adapted to receive and hold harvested cotton materials, and a cotton compacting assembly comprising: a rigid cotton compacting frame mounted for movement in said basket; and   at least one rotatable member carried on and movable with the frame for imparting movement to the cotton materials received in said basket.   
     
     
       8. The cotton harvester according to claim 7 wherein said cotton compacting assembly further includes a selectively operated driver that vertically moves the frame on-the-go to compact cotton materials in said basket. 
     
     
       9. The cotton harvester according to claim 7 wherein the frame of said compacting assembly includes an elongated structural frame member arranged on opposite sides of each rotatable member. 
     
     
       10. The cotton harvester according to claim 7 wherein said frame is mounted toward one end to said basket for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
       11. The cotton harvester according to claim 7 wherein each rotatable member is separately driver by a motor that operates independently of the vertical movement of the frame. 
     
     
       12. The cotton harvester according to claim 11 wherein each rotatable member is driven by said motor concurrently with movements of said frame to forcibly propel cotton materials in a predetermined direction within said basket. 
     
     
       13. A cotton harvester having a mobile fore-and-aft extending frame, duct structure for blowing harvested cotton materials into a cotton basket adapted to receive and hold the harvested cotton materials, said basket including a floor, a top wail, with opposed side walls and front and back walls that extend upwardly from the floor and are rigidly joined to the top wall, and a cotton compacting assembly for compacting the harvested cotton materials within said basket, said compacting assembly comprising: a frame assembly including a plurality of fore-and-aft rigid frame members that are rigidly connected to each other by a series of transverse members, said frame assembly being mounted within said basket for vertical movement between a retracted position and an extended position; and   a plurality of rotatable augers carried on and movable with the frame assembly for imparting movement to the cotton materials received in said basket.   
     
     
       14. The cotton harvester according to claim 13 wherein said compacting assembly further includes structure for mounting said frame assembly for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal fixed axis. 
     
     
       15. The cotton harvester according to claim 13 wherein said frame assembly is closely adjacent said top wall in a retracted position and moves toward said bottom in an extended position. 
     
     
       16. The cotton harvester according to claim 15 wherein said compacting assembly further includes a driver for moving said frame assembly away from said retracted position toward said extended position. 
     
     
       17. The cotton harvester according to claim 13 wherein each auger is rotatably driven under the influence of a hydraulic motor that operates independently of vertical movements of the frame assembly. 
     
     
       18. The cotton harvester according to claim 13 wherein each auger rotates about an axis that extends generally parallel to the direction of the blown harvested cotton. 
     
     
       19. A cotton receiving receptacle comprising: a walled enclosure into which harvested cotton is directed, said walled enclosure being defined by a top wall, a bottom floor, and a series of upstruck rigid side walls that extend upwardly from the floor and are joined to the top wall; and   cotton compacting structure arranged within said walled enclosure for compacting the cotton received within said enclosure, said compacting structure comprising a rigid frame mounted for reciprocating movements in said enclosure, and one or more rotatably driven augers carried on and movable with said frame.   
     
     
       20. The cotton receiving receptacle according to claim 19 wherein said rigid frame is normally maintained in a retracted position adjacent and generally parallel to said top wall of the walled enclosure and is movable to an extended position. 
     
     
       21. The cotton receiving receptacle according to claim 20 wherein a linearly distendable hydraulic driver moves said frame assembly between retracted and extended position. 
     
     
       22. The cotton receptacle according to claim 19 wherein said walled enclosure includes a lower basket portion and an upper basket portion, with said upper basket portion being telescopically movable relative to the lowered basket portion. 
     
     
       23. The cotton receiving receptacle according to claim 22 wherein said frame is mounted for movement with said upper basket portion. 
     
     
       24. The cotton receptacle according to claim 19 wherein said frame is mounted to said walled enclosure for pivotal movement between retracted and extended positions. 
     
     
       25. The cotton receptacle according to claim 19 wherein each auger is rotatably driven by a motor independent of the vertical movement of the frame. 
     
     
       26. The cotton receptacle according to claim 19 wherein a first operator switch controls vertical movements of the rigid frame and a second operator switch controls rotation of said augers. 
     
     
       27. A method of filling a cotton basket on a cotton harvester, including the steps of: blowing harvested cotton materials in a preselected direction into the basket;   rotating a series of augers to move the cotton in generally the same direction as said preselected direction;   moving a cotton compacting frame assembly on which said augers are mounted between a retracted position and an extended position to compact the harvested cotton materials in the basket.   
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 27 further including the step of mounting the frame assembly for pivotal movement about a fixed generally horizontal axis. 
     
     
       29. The method according to claim 27 wherein the step of rotating the augers is effected independently from the step of moving the frame assembly.